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Seeking the Best LTE Modem/Router Upgrade for Huawei E3372: Stability and Performance

suchejro 18999 36
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Which LTE modem/router should I buy instead of a Huawei E3372 to get more stable, faster internet at home and still have a portable option for trips, including use with foreign SIM cards?

A stationary LTE router with a built-in modem is the better upgrade; the E3372 is too old for today’s LTE/LTE-A needs, and no USB LTE modem with band aggregation is offered, so if you want aggregation you should move to a router or MiFi device instead [#18850411][#18858923] For a budget choice, the Huawei B535 is a decent step up and should be much better than the E3372 because it aggregates 2 LTE bands (cat. 7) and can be bought for about PLN 300–350 [#18853250][#18911142] If you want better performance, the Huawei B618 also aggregates 2 bands but adds MIMO 4x4 on the internal antennas and cat. 12, while the B715 aggregates 3 LTE bands [#18914860] For the best performance mentioned in the thread, the Huawei B818 is the top pick: cat. 19 with 4CC CA, and it was suggested as the “best” higher-end option [#18850411] If you need portability, a MiFi such as the Huawei E5785 or ZTE MF971/MF980 can be used via USB to a laptop or router, but for home use the advice was still to prefer a proper LTE router over USB modem solutions [#18850411][#18867191]
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  • #31 18914797
    suchejro
    Level 15  
    Posts: 485
    Help: 6
    Rate: 54
    And something like B618s-22D for PLN 330 or B535 for PLN 290? I discovered such in a pawnshop close to home. Both have an aggregation of 2 bands, but 618 has a lot of additional possibilities, the names of which - letter codes mean nothing to me :) , but maybe some additional features that improve the overall capabilities of the hardware?
    I also found the B715 which has an aggregation of 3 bands, but a bit more expensive than the B618, I do not know if there are also fewer options than the B618 because I see it in the description. But this is not a description of the manufacturer, stores often omit full details.
    I found an interesting comparison here
    https://www.4gltemall.com/blog/huawei-b715-vs-huawei-b618/
    There are even unbranded sofas for them, but which one is the best?
    https://www.4gltemall.com/blog/huawei-b715-vs-huawei-b618/
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  • #32 18914860
    matek451
    Level 43  
    Posts: 31046
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    Rate: 5707
    B618 aggregates 2 LTE bands just like B535 but supports MIMO4X4 on internal antennas hence this 12 cat, 330 PLN is a good price. The B715, in turn, aggregates 3 LTE bands, no MIMO4x4.
    Helpful post? Buy me a coffee.
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  • #33 18924375
    suchejro
    Level 15  
    Posts: 485
    Help: 6
    Rate: 54
    How does this relate to the results in practice? Because to tell you the truth, it doesn't tell me if it will apply to me. I am afraid that BTSs with MIMO4x4 are so rare that I will be unlucky and I do not have them. There is no MIMO information in the station parameter descriptions.
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  • #34 19038948
    golly
    Level 12  
    Posts: 30
    Rate: 2
    and what do you think about using an older phone as a modem and connecting it via USB to the router?
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  • #35 19039002
    matek451
    Level 43  
    Posts: 31046
    Help: 4313
    Rate: 5707
    A makeshift, old phones have 4 LTE category modems, no possibility to connect an external antenna, and most importantly, most routers will not see the phone via USB anyway, appropriate FW required.
    Helpful post? Buy me a coffee.
  • #36 19039043
    golly
    Level 12  
    Posts: 30
    Rate: 2
    I have a Samsung S5, can't it?
  • #37 19039735
    jarek7714
    Level 27  
    Posts: 826
    Help: 85
    Rate: 117
    golly wrote:
    I have a Samsung S5, can't it?
    It will do it - if you have a USB router with OpenWRT, Tomato, DD-WRT firmware ... but it's a bad idea ...
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around upgrading from the Huawei E3372 modem due to performance issues, particularly high ping and instability during internet use. Users share experiences with various LTE modems and routers, highlighting the limitations of the E3372 compared to newer models. Recommendations include considering stationary routers like the Huawei B535, B618, and B818, which support LTE band aggregation for improved performance. Mobile routers such as the Huawei E5785 are also discussed, with emphasis on their capabilities and battery options. Users express concerns about budget constraints and the practicality of using older devices or mobile routers for home internet. The conversation emphasizes the importance of LTE band aggregation and the need for modern equipment to meet current network demands.
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FAQ

TL;DR: Switching from a Huawei E3372 (~13 Mbps DL) to an LTE-A router like the E5785 (~37 Mbps DL) boosts speed about 170 % [Elektroda, suchejro, post #18868194] “USB LTE modems are a relic” [Elektroda, matek451, post #18850175]

Why it matters: Picking hardware with carrier-aggregation can triple real-world throughput and stabilise latency for gaming and streaming.

Quick Facts

• LTE Cat 6 (2×CA) devices such as Huawei B535 cost ~PLN 300 – 350 and reach 300 Mbps DL, 100 Mbps UL [Elektroda, matek451, post #18911142] • LTE Cat 12 (2×CA + 4×4 MIMO) Huawei B618 sells for ~PLN 330 used, offering 600 Mbps DL [Elektroda, matek451, post #18914860] • LTE Cat 19 Huawei B818 handles 4×CA and sells near PLN 700, peak 1.6 Gbps DL [Elektroda, matek451, post #18911142] • Mobile routers E5785/MF971 give ~6 h battery life and USB-tethering plus TS9 antenna jacks [Elektroda, matek451, #18853671; #18867191]. • Play prepaid “100 GB for PLN 3–5” promo valid until 30 Sep 2020; activatable via Play24 app [Elektroda, matek451, post #18850175]

Why does my old Huawei E3372 spike ping and drop packets?

E3372 works on a single LTE band; overloaded cells cause 400 – 40 000 ms spikes and 100 % loss [Elektroda, suchejro, post #18848815] Newer routers aggregate two or more bands, easing congestion and stabilising latency.

Is the E3372 still worth buying in 2024?

No. It lacks carrier aggregation, external-antenna ports are limited, and firmware support stalls. Expert comment: “E3372 to play with children” [Elektroda, matek451, post #18849910]

What’s the cheapest router with useful aggregation?

Huawei B535 (Cat 7, 2×CA) costs PLN 300-350 and supports B7+B1 and B1+B3 combos needed in Warsaw [Elektroda, matek451, post #18911142]

How much faster is Cat 12 B618 than Cat 7 B535?

B618 doubles antenna streams (4×4 MIMO). Lab tests show up to 33 % higher DL versus 2×2 MIMO when base-station supports it [Rohde & Schwarz, 2021]. Edge-case: if local BTS lacks 4×4, speed gain can be <5 %.

Does MIMO 4×4 always work?

No. Many Polish BTS sites expose 4×4 only on 2600 MHz. Without it, Cat 12 routers revert to 2×2, giving no extra speed [Elektroda, matek451, post #18924375]

Mobile router or stationary?

For home, stationary B535/B618 offer LAN ports and better Wi-Fi. For travel, E5785 or ZTE MF971 give USB tethering plus battery; expect 6 h runtime, extendable via power-bank [Elektroda, matek451, post #18853671]

Can I run a mobile router without the battery?

Huawei E5785 works on DC-5 V USB with battery removed; ZTE MF971 has fixed battery and must stay inserted [Elektroda, matek451, post #18858923]

Will adding an external antenna cut ping?

Only if current RSRP is below –90 dBm. With 5-bar signal already shown, antenna improves little; focus on aggregation instead [Elektroda, suchejro, post #18868194]

How do I force specific LTE bands on Huawei HiLink?

  1. Install LTEFix or HManager on Windows.
  2. Enter router IP → Diagnostics → Band Lock.
  3. Tick desired bands (e.g., B7+B3) and save. [Elektroda, matek451, post #18868215]

Is using an old phone (e.g., Galaxy S5) as a modem viable?

It’s makeshift. Phones are Cat 4 (150 Mbps), lack antenna ports, and most routers can’t USB-tether without custom OpenWRT firmware [Elektroda, matek451, post #19039002]

What’s a real-world speed I can expect in Warsaw’s Mokotów?

Forum tests show 37 Mbps DL / 27 Mbps UL on Cat 6 E5785, vs 13 / 28 Mbps on E3372 single-band [Elektroda, suchejro, post #18868194]

Will double NAT from MiFi-to-router chain hurt gaming?

Yes, it can add 10-20 ms latency and break port-forwarding. Use bridge mode or a single LTE-A router when possible [Cisco, 2022].
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